Valedictorians Jennifer Hong of Mason High School and Mikaela Wormely of Shroder Paideia High School share the meaning behind their graduation speeches.
Meg Vogel and Albert Cesare, Cincinnati Enquirer

Jennifer Hong was still working on her graduation speech last week as the valedictorian of Mason High School, but she is clear on what she wants her cohorts to hear. She'll lead with gratitude for the 13 years she has spent in Mason, thanking teachers, her parents and others for their support.

Jennifer Hong, Mason High School valedictorian, poses for a portrait in her high school in Mason, Ohio, on Friday, May 10, 2019. Hong has been accepted to Harvard where she plans to attend in the fall. (Photo: Albert Cesare / The Enquirer)

But her message to students? It encapsulates the sometimes angst-filled thoughts and feelings that young people have as they make it through life.

"(We must) look beyond ourselves and our own insecurities," Hong said. "Work on projecting positivity toward other people instead of projecting insecurities about ourselves. By focusing on others that we care about and following our passions, that’s a way for us to make an impact on others."

Jennifer will be heading to Harvard this fall to prepare for a career in medicine.

This week, Greater Cincinnati schools plunged into the annual season of commencement. Endings and new beginnings. This marks one of the most exciting – and stressful – times for high school seniors, their parents and the educators who have helped them prepare for the challenges ahead.

The Class of 2019 was born at the turn of the 21st century. It has grown up digital, having access to more technology than any generation before it. Folks can make a living doing make-up on YouTube and at the same time become a victim of devastating cyberbullying.

They have also grown up with active shooter drills as normal as tornado drills in their schools, some economic uncertainty from the Great Recession of 2008 and seen the effects of a new drug crisis take hold in their communities. They witnessed the election of the first president of color, have streamed shows on their smartphones and likely had food and/or clothing delivered to their homes via some service. To them, Uber is a noun and a verb.

Over the past few weeks, I have spent time interviewing several members of the top of the high school class of 2019. I wanted to know what was on their minds and what they were planning to share with their peers during commencement exercises. Here is some of what they told me.

Lift as you climb

Mikaela Wormley, valedictorian, Shroder Paideia High School

"I want my class and those who are attending graduation to take away from my speech that they need to give back to those who have helped them get to where they are, and that they need to care for themselves at the same time," she said. "That it is OK to say 'no' sometimes, and that, ultimately, they should be their own top priority."

Excerpt from her speech:

I did a lot of essays and quite a few interviews for scholarships I applied to. And over and over at the interviews, I got asked the same question almost word for word. "What does it mean to 'lift as you climb?' "

Each time I rattled off some generic response without really thinking about it. It wasn't until I sat down to write this speech, in May because I procrastinate, that I really thought about the meaning behind that. "To lift as you climb," it means to help everyone. It means to lift those who may not know they need help. Even help those who may not have helped you.

Mikaela is majoring in molecular studies at the University of Cincinnati.

Cassidy Serger, St. Ursula High School(Photo: The New Studio/You See Photography,Inc.)

Thank you for teaching us to see

Cassidy Serger, valedictorian, St. Ursula High School

Excerpt from her speech:

Going to the eye doctor is one of the greatest trials in life. First, they put drops in your eyes that make you hypersensitive to light for the rest of the day. Next, you have to read arbitrary letters from across the room. And finally, the doctor flips between two options and you have to pick one despite the fact that they are almost identical. But it’s all worth it when a pair of glasses is placed upon your head and, at last, the world is clear.

... Thank you, teachers, for giving us the best gift: the ability to understand and impact the world for the better. Thank you for teaching us to see.

Cassidy will attend Ohio University in the fall.

Parker Niehaus(Photo: Provided)

Parker Niehaus, valedictorian at Elder High School, said the main point he'll convey in his May 22 address is this: "Don't look at this an end. Look at it as a beginning. When one door closes, the next door opens. Continue working on your dreams because at the end of the day it's not over."

He'll be attending the University of Notre Dame majoring in business analytics.

Pay it forward

Kings High School valedictorian Caroline Mott saidshe hopes her classmates look back on what they learned in high school to "pay it forward" and make the world a better place.

Caroline Mott(Photo: provided)

Excerpt from her speech:

I would like to ask you all to reflect on some lesson or experience that you found in high school but did not see coming. Maybe you have made some friends or come to truly know yourself. Maybe you discovered a scholarly passion or career goal through the classes you’ve taken. Maybe you were inspired by the community service you completed and now see your community in a new way.

Now please think about how you will pay this insight forward. How will you use what you have learned to make a positive difference in our world? I can’t wait to see what all of us achieve.

Mott is heading to the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, as an environmental science major.

Kameia Edwards(Photo: Provided)

Follow your own dream

Kameia Edwards, valedictorian, Hughes STEM High School, said she wants her classmates to realize their potential no matter what. "Look toward the future in a positive and hopeful manner," she said. "Don't just follow in someone else's footpath, but follow your own dream."

Kameia will major in nursing at Christ College.

Luke Weyer(Photo: Provided)

Continue to give back

At LaSalle High School, valedictorian Luke Weyer said he is finishing his four years there, having learned how to adjust to change.

School is about honoring the entire class and not just a few selected individuals, he said. For Weyer, the concept of service that began when he was in grade school has continued as a LaSalle tradition. He'll convey that to his classmates in his May 26 speech.

"LaSalle has been an inspiration for sure. I want to talk about some things you can do to help give back to LaSalle and inspire them on things they can do to better themselves," Weyer said. "Also, make the most of everything. Make sure you take advantage of an opportunity when you get an opportunity because it might not always be there."

Luke is headed to the University of Cincinnati as an environmental sciences major.